Challenger Gold has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining environmental approval for its Hualilán gold project in Argentina’s San Juan Province, marking the first gold project in the region to receive such approval in 17 years.
With a market capitalization of $94.25 million, Challenger is now poised to move forward with mine construction and development activities.
Executive Director Sonia Delgado emphasized that this approval sets a new benchmark for mining, blending economic growth with environmental stewardship and social benefits for the San Juan community. “Challenger chose San Juan not by chance, but by conviction—this province offers legal security, institutional support, exceptional human capital, and a rich mining heritage spanning over a century,” Delgado stated.
The approval process involved local professionals, showcasing that San Juan’s expertise meets the highest international standards. “We aim to be a model of modern mining, committing to 71 specific environmental obligations as our promise to the people of San Juan,” she added.
The Environmental Impact Assessment encompasses 19 mining rights, including the Hualilán Groups one and two. The Hualilán Project is recognized as one of Argentina’s largest undeveloped high-grade gold projects, boasting a resource estimate of 2.8 million ounces of gold-equivalent over a strike length of 2.2 kilometers. Notably, over 75% of this resource estimate falls within the higher-confidence indicated category, based on 220,000 meters of drilling completed by Challenger.
Challenger Gold has also secured a social license to operate in San Juan, driven by proactive community engagement. Furthermore, the company is proud to be the only mining firm in Argentina certified carbon neutral for the past two years.
Currently, Challenger Gold is developing two gold-copper projects in South America.
